The OC Gazette

[James with OC Foodie Fest marketing team member Virginia Strickland in front of his gourmet food truck, Taco Dawg.]

We got a chance to chit chat with James Foxall, the mastermind behind the inaugural OC Foodie Fest. What is the OC Foodie Fest? Just a beautiful blending of 50+ gourmet food trucks, live music from bands like OC's The New Limb, live performances including The Beat Freaks (featured on MTV’s America’s Best Dance Crew), Patchwork Indie Arts & Crafts Festival vendors, kids entertainment from Pretend City, DJs, a beer and wine garden and MORE! Did I mention it's for a good cause? Proceeds will go to charity. So eat your hearts out. Literally and metaphorically.

Will Chef Ludo Lefebvre actually be there in the Ludo Truck taking orders? 

He is excited about this being the first event of its kind in Orange County and is trying to work it in to his busy schedule. He embodies what this movement is about; pushing the envelope on what is traditionally considered fine cuisine and at the same time adding a little edge.

How did you come up with the idea of the OC Foodie Fest?

Seeing the need for awareness in Orange County about these food trucks and the overall popularity of the mobile food movement; a festival made perfect sense.

[ James Foxall, a.k.a Fox as his friends call him.]

What are you most excited about for the event?

To get through it alive and in one piece! Just kidding. Besides the food, I’m super stoked about our musical line-up. We have six awesome bands that are on the verge of breaking out and at least one of them are going to be the next big thing.

You have more than 50 gourmet food trucks participating. How did you get that many people involved? Did it involve selling your soul to the devil?

Haha. I hope if I would have sold my soul things would be easier. Pretty straight forward really. I sent out emails to the trucks describing what we had planned and asked for submissions. What was amazing was the response. We could have easily had more trucks.

[The Taco Dawg truck.]

You guys say the purpose of OC Foodie Fest is to celebrate “our love of food and its power to bring the community together.” In your words, how do you think food can bond a community together?

 You know this could be a very philosophical question but let me answer it like this: I think food, in particular new kinds of food, gives people a chance to peel back the curtain a bit and step out of their comfort zone and when we do that it tends to open us up to other ideas and people.

Proceeds from the event will help support charities including Pretend City Children’s Museum, Child S.H.A.R.E. and St. Vincent Meals on Wheels. Why are these charities close to your heart?

 Virginia Strickland (co-organizer) and I are both big believers in paying things forward and these are three of the charities that we’ve worked with in the past. It’s a simple philosophy really; when you reach out to others, they in turn reach out to somebody else and eventually, hopefully, we’re all helping each other.

[Delicious Taco Dawg eats.]

Being the owner of Taco Dawg, what’s your idea of the ultimate taco?

That’s easy, the Taco Papa it’s a deep fried taco stuffed with cheese and your favorite ingredients.

Favorite stationary restaurant?

Gosh, its been so long since I’ve eaten anywhere but off my truck. I would have to say give me a good steakhouse any day of the week and I’m a happy camper.

If you were on death row, what would your “last meal” be?

Steak (medium rare), extra gooey mac and cheese, sautéed spinach and a baked potato. This is my favorite meal in the whole world. My mother makes it for me every time I visit home.

If you were a condiment what would you be?

Haha… a spicy ketchup!

In 15 words or less, why should Orange Countians go to the OC Foodie Fest?

Well let me answer in Haiku: This fest is so big/With plenty to see and do/Don’t forget to eat.

Don't forget to get your tickets to the OC Foodie Fest on August 28th, 2010 at the Honda Center! Click here to go to the site and find out more. Want to win FREE tickets to go? We are giving away two pair on our OC Gazette facebook page to two lucky fans on August 16th for MOOCHER MONDAY! Be there, or be square hungry.

Cheers!

Amy

On my iPod: Florence + The Machine's "Kiss With A Fist"